NFC East Preview 2022
New York Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants looks on during the game against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on September 12, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
After finishing last in the NFC east with a 4-13 record the Giants finally fired their general manager Dave Gettleman after four seasons. Joe Judge was fired as well just after one season. With Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll coming in from Buffalo the Giants are looking to rebuild as a franchise.
Head coach Daboll is going to have his hands full with the offense this year. The team decided to not pick up quarterback Daniel Jones’s fifth-year option making this a make-or-break season for him. He has to be better with the ball in terms of decision-making with fewer turnovers. His teammates have to be healthy too. A healthy Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay will go a long way. With Kadarius Toney poised for a breakout season if all weapons are available to Jones, anything is possible with this team. Drafting Evan Neal was great to help protect Jones and hopefully open up holes for the run game. Everyone on offense has something to prove this season.
The defense this year should be an upgrade. The Giants drafted one of the best pass rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux. If he can stay healthy and keep his motor running the sky is the limit. On the line, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams are the two focal points. The question is who will be able to join them. Xavier McKinney is now the defensive leader in just his third year. That safety spot looks secure with him and Julian Love back there. The cornerbacks have something to prove with James Bradberry gone. All indications show Adoree Jackson to be the No.1 guy. The main objective for the corners this year will be to create more turnovers.
Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #2 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs off the field following the Eagles win over the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The defense should be more than fine this year but the offense is what everyone is talking about. Jalen Hurts is the play caller and is looking to have a way better season than he did last year. A lot of critics are questioning whether can he be the quarterback for the Eagles. He is a dual-threat quarterback but last season lacked in throwing the football. This year could be different. A.J. Brown has been added to the team, he will line up on the other side of DeVonta Smith. This will open up the field for both receivers and tight end Dallas Goedert. Expect the 16 touchdowns Hurts had from a year ago to go up to 25+.
The defense will be something of a problem this season. They drafted Jordan Davis out of Georgia who should’ve been a top 5 pick. They also drafted guys like Nakobe Dean and Kyron Johnson. Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett will be back and will be a problem. These new names might take a second to get adjusted but will ultimately make their presence known on the field. Out of all the teams, the Eagles might have the best defense. If the offense can make things happen it will be a problem for the rest of the division.
Washington Commanders
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 25: Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with teammates after making an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
If Carson Wentz doesn’t get it right here he might be out of a starting job for good. In Philly his first couple of seasons he did great but then fell off. With Indy, he did well all the up til the last game when his team needed him the most he folded. Now he is on his third team in three seasons hoping to make a difference. A couple of players to look for are Antonio Gibson who rushed for 1,037 yards and Terry McLaurin who had 1,053 receiving yards. If Wentz can become a better leader and get his guys the ball this team can contend for the top spot in the division.
This defense has one of the best young front fours in the game. Chase Young more than likely will miss the season opener and more from a knee injury he sustained last season. Young is one of the important pieces to this defense he has shown he can dominate the game. Daron Payne, Johnathan Allen, and Montez Sweat all line up next to Young. If they can hold it down without Young for a while and stay healthy it could be scary for opposing quarterbacks to go against them. The secondary will be better with Kendall Fuller and Landon Collins back there. Fuller led the team with 16 interceptions. This will be a good defense with another season together they can do some damage.
Dallas Cowboys
OXNARD, CA – AUGUST 01: Quarterback Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys hands off to running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 during training camp drills at River Ridge Fields on August 1, 2022 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
What has happened to Ezekiel Elliot? He was once the next best thing when it came to running backs now it looks like he will be the number two behind Tony Pollard. A solid season from him running and catching will shut down critics. Dak Prescott has pressure this year but what else is new? This off-season there was no rehab to go through so he should be ready to go this season. With no more Amari Cooper, the focus of the offense will be CeeDee Lamb. Lamb took a huge step last season leading the team in receiving yards with 1,102 and will continue to do the same this season. Their biggest question is who will be able to help him out and get his eyes off him. Michael Gallup is injured for now so someone else will need to step up. The offensive line is older but should still be average. As long as they can hold up enough to give Prescott enough time to make something happen they will be dominant at least in the division.
Recently adding veteran Anthony Barr to an already stacked defense will make them better. They already have 2021 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch at linebacker so the depth there is not a problem. Barr will be more of insurance for the team in case one of those two go down. Trevon Diggs will look to have another great campaign terrorizing quarterbacks. He had 11 interceptions last season and brought two back for touchdowns. Jayron Kearse led the team in tackles with 101. The linebackers and secondary will be the focal point for this team. It will be hard to pass against this team with the weapons they have.
GALLERY: New York Giants Honor Michael Strahan With Jersey Retirement Ceremony
